Piston-rod packing



(No Model.)

W. H. PRINCE.

PISTON ROD PACKING.

N0. 320,688. Patented June 23, 1885.

un lill/A mmm WITNESSES r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VI'LLIAM H. PRINCE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PISTON-ROD PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,688, dated June 23, 1885.

' Application filed April '27, 1855. (No model.) Y

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.'

lBe it known that I, WILLIAM H. PRINCE, of Cleveland, of the county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Im,

proved Piston-Bod Packing; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the same.

The special object of the above-mentioned invention is to provide a steam-engine pistonrod with a metallic packing, arranged in the stuiiing-box of the cylinder, and which packing by the expansive pressure of the steam is closed around the rod, thereby rendering the 'rod steam-tight, and at the same time free to move reciprocally in the stuflingbox.

A further and full detailed description of the invention will be found in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, making a part thereof, :in which- Figure 1 represents a transverse sectional View ofthe head and stufiing-box of a steamengine cylinder having 'therein the improved packing. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached side view ofthe packing. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of a detached section. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same.

Like figures of reference denote like parts in' the drawings.

In the drawings, a, Fig. 1, represents a flanged collar screwed onto a cylindrical case, b, a detached side view of which is shown in Fig. 4, and thereof Fig. 5 is an end view. In said case is arranged the packing above alluded to, and which consists of a pair of rings of any suitable metal. Said rings are duplicates, and each one is divided into two sections-viz., e and f, Fig. 2, are the two sections of the ring A, and c and g are the two sections of the ring B.

An end view of Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3, in which c and gare the two sections corresponding to the two sections c and g in Fig. 2. In said Fig. 3 the full lines a indicate the sectional division-line of the ring B, and the broken lines b the division-line of the ring A. In said figure it will be noticed that the two rings are so arranged in relation to each other as to cause the sections to break joints.

In the side of each section of the packingring B is a hole, Figs. 2 and 3, inwhich are inserted, respectively, the springs k; also in the sections of the packing'ring A are similar holes and springs. One of said holes isshown at m in Fig. 2. Circumferentially on each side of said holes is a groove, c', the purpose of which will presently appear. That the packing-rings may -not rotate upon each other they may be held by a dowel. The packing-rings in their relation to each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are placed in the case b, as shown in Fig. 1, in which it will be seen that the rings do not quite fill diametrically the` case, there being an annular space, m', Fig. 1, between the rings and the case. The several springs are also pressed into their respective holes by the sides of the case, against which the springs abut. The rings are kept in contact with each other by a follower, d, put on over the end of the case, as seen in Fig. 1, in which it will be observed that the follower is provided with an annular rabbet, adapting the follower to fit closely the inside of the case and to cover the end thereof Hush with the outer surface. On the central part of the follower is a boss, in which is an opening corresponding to the opening or hole a', Fig. 5, in the bottom of the case for the admission of the piston-rod z', Fig. 1.

The packing rings and case above described form a gland for the stuffing-box h of the head of a steam-cylinder, of which t' represents the piston-rod. The gland or case of packing-rings is secured in the box bya collar, c, Fig. 1, put

on over the follower d and screwed onto the end of the case. The collar is secured to the stufngbox by the bolts hf, projected through the ila-nge of the collar into the flange of the box, as shown in Fig. 1, in which it will be noticed that between the two flanges is a gasket, r, thereby making the connection of the case with the box steam-tight. Itwill further be noticed that between the case and the side of the stufiingbox there is an annular space, C, and that the piston-rod does not iit closely in the hole of the stuffing-box, there being a narrow annular space between the rod and the hole through which it passes, thereby putting the interior of the stuffing-box'in communication with the interior of the cylinder, substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

Practically, the operation of the above-described packing is as follows: As above re- IOO marked, h represents aportion of asteam-cylinder head and the stuffing-box, and the piston-rod, around which the packing-rings 'are pressed by the expansive force of the steam which passes from the cylinder around the rod into the hollow of the stuffing-box, as indicated by the arrows. From the stuffing-box the steam passes into the annular space m and passes through the perforations a and o made in the sides of the case and opposite the sections of the packing therein, as shown in Figs. l, 4, and 5. The pressure of the steam exerted upon the packing forces itaround the pistonrod, ythereby rendering it steam-tight in its connection with the cylinder. The sections of the packing-rings are free to close around the piston-rod. As the ends of the sections slide in upon each other in parallel lines a', Fig. 3, the ends o and the shoulders e of the sections are prevented from contact by the piston-rod, but approach each other, as the packing may Wear away, by the action of the rod, around which the packing is continuously closed by the expansive force of the steam, as above said. The resiliency of the springs k is not relied on for keeping the packing closed around the piston-rod. rlhey are useful only under a very low pressure of steam as auxiliaries for closing the packing around the rod, and for that purpose may not be necessary, for under all or nearly all effective steam-pressure the packing will be closed sufficiently tight around the piston-rod to make the same steam-tight.

The object of the grooves e', above, alluded to, is to conduct the steam around the sections of the packing, and thereby cause a more general pressure upon each section than if the said pressure were confined to one particular place on the packing.

The above-described packing, although es pecially intended for piston-rods of steam-engnes, may, however, be used for valverods and other rods subject to the action of steam.

It is not essential that the case should be a separate part, for in some instances it may be desirable that the case be an integral part of .c and g and case b, in which said rings are so fitted that there shall be an annular space between them and the case, and said case having in the sides thereof perforations, respectively, a a and o o, relatively to the sections of the rings, follower d, collar a, and gasket, in combination with the stuffing-box and piston-rod, constructed and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the two-part pack ing-rings A and B, perforated case inclosing said rings, springs lc, follower and collar a, gasket, and stuiiing-box, all constructed and arranged in the manner substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM H. PRINCE.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, N. W. CUTTER. 

